keys to successful scholarship applications · do i really deserve a scholarship? don’t let fear...

Keys to Successful

Scholarship Applications

Finding

scholarships

Where to look

• Evergreen scholarships

• Professional organizations

• Banks and credit unions

• Foundations and civic groups

• Scholarship search engines

• Be aware of scholarship scams

Types of

scholarships

• Merit-based

• Need-based

• Interest-based

Should I

apply?

Should I really apply? Yes!

• If scholarship funding would help you succeed

• If you are able to spend some time working on

scholarship applications

Do I really

deserve a

scholarship?

Don’t let fear of failure stop you from even

trying!

• Applying for any kind of financial assistance

can feel intimidating because, at the end of the

day, whether you are awarded the scholarship

is not something you have control over. But,

you can’t receive a scholarship if you don’t

apply!

Applying for a

scholarship

Multiple Parts

• Cover Sheets

• Letter(s) of Recommendation

• Application Essay(s)

• Thank you note(s)

Cover Sheet

• A cover sheet is a way to disclose a lot of

information in an organized way all at once.

Evergreen’s is a clickable form and asks you

to input demographic info as well as

information about your interests and

experiences.

Application

Essay(s)

Application Essay(s) give you an opportunity to

describe your educational goals, and your

compatibility with the goals and values of the

scholarship donors. You may also need to define

your need, merits, or interests.

Letter(s) of

recommendation

A letter of recommendation is written by

someone who has seen your skills in action. It is

an opportunity for them to recommend that you

receive the scholarship.

• Give as much notice as possible

• Ask people who can speak to your skills

• Letters should be addressed generally

• Try to have three letters of recommendation

Format &

General Tips

• For Evergreen scholarships: write one letter

that responds to each element of the prompt,

as they apply to you.

• For external scholarships: write separate

letters for each scholarship

• Include a cover page for each

• Use: plain, white, printer paper, a text size of

11 pt or 12 pt, and a common, standard font

like Arial or Times New Roman

• Evergreen Scholarships are two pages double-

spaced; for external scholarships, refer to the

criteria around single or double spacing

• Keep copies of your applications

Writing

Process

Letters of

application

writing process

• Brainstorm on your educational goals, previous

history, and your values

• Draft out a letter

• Revise your letter asking yourself how your

audience would respond. Is it easy to understand?

Does it respond to what they need to know?

• Edit your letter to ensure that each sentence is

complete, clear, and compelling

• Proof read your application for errors

• Submit!

• If you receive the scholarship: Send a thank you

note

Planning

ahead

• Identify the scholarships

• Brainstorm

• Draft

• Revise

• Edit

• Proof read

• Submit!

• If you receive the scholarship: Send a thank you

note

• How long will it take you to do each step?

Consider starting with budgeting one hour per

step.

You don’t have

to go it alone!

Use campus resources

such as the Writing Center,

TRiO, Academic and

Career Advising, your

faculty, etc.

Writing a

compelling letter

Letter of

Application

Do’s and

Don’ts

• Don’t look up other essays for content. Do tell

your own story in the pattern that makes sense

for it!

• Don’t repeat information from other places in

your application. Do use the space you have

to the full!

• Don’t be too modest or sell yourself short. Do

trust that you are worthy of making this

request!

• Don’t write in a style that is unnatural for you.

Do trust that your own voice will carry your

story!

• Don’t just list information about yourself. Do

show the impacts, importance, and “why”s

behind your most important claims and

requests.

Show instead

of tell

Tell: I changed my mind about being PreVet.

Telling more: I did not like working at the animal

clinic and dropped PreVet.

Showing: I changed my mind about being

PreVet. After having to euthanize a healthy

beagle, per the wishes of its callous owner, I

decided I could never run a veterinary clinic.

Show instead

of tell

Tell: My family was a big influence on me.

Telling More: I saw how hard my family worked

to ensure that I did well in school.

Showing: After a full day of work, my mom made

time every weeknight to help me with my

homework and study for exams.

Application

Essay

Revision

Questions

Does my essay:

• address the prompt?/ address my educational

goals?

• meet the length requirements?

• show instead of tell?

• start with an attention grabber/hold the

reader’s attention?

• stand out/showcase my story to the fullest?

More

Application

Essay

Revision

Questions

Revision Questions for purpose, audience, tone,

and theme:

• Is my purpose in writing the letter clear?

• How am I interacting with my audience?

• What kind of mood/tone comes through?

Professional? Casual? Kind? Cruel?

• Are there any themes (overcoming hardship,

commitment to an issue) that are coming

through that could come through more?

Try it out!

Describe your academic or

career interests and goals, and

how attending Evergreen will

help you fulfill those goals.

Scholarships

and your

personal worth

Discussion Question for pairs:

How do you both show off that you are a great

student, awesome person, incredibly

deserving…but also say that you need money,

and don’t have resources?

Scholarships

and your

personal worth

Many of us are combatting lifelong narratives that

we don’t deserve to receive support (financial,

emotional, institutional, societal, etc.)

It’s hard to ask for help with money. Do it anyway!

Scholarships

and your

personal worth

YOU ARE WORTHY of pursuing your education

whether you receive a scholarship or not.

Look at how far you’ve come already!

Questions?

undergraduatescholar@evergreen.edu